On Sept. 5, 2003, Beijing passed the overall regulation on dog breeding. The rule, which took effect on Oct. 15 that year, stipulated among other things that “large and vicious dogs” were not allowed in “key management areas” in Beijing. The rule defined those areas — the districts that make up the heart of the capital — but not the dog breeds.

Then, on Oct. 13, two days before the rule was set to take effect, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Agriculture, the authority in charge of husbandry and veterinary affairs, issued the definitive explanation notice on the banned breeds. “In key management areas, vicious dogs as well as dogs of maturity height over 35 centimeters are not allowed,” the announcement said. The notice excluded guide dogs for the blind and other similar helper dogs from the height restriction. The notice listed the following dogs as examples of those that were banned: